My Best of the ‘Burgh With Picklesburgh Creator Russell Howard

The man behind Picklesburgh shares his best of the Steel City.

July 7, 2025

Virginia Linn,

RUSSELL HOWARD | PHOTO BY LAURA PETRILLA

Russell Howard fell in love with pickles long before he moved to Pittsburgh in 1978 to attend Carnegie Mellon University.

Growing up in the New York City area, he often visited local delis, where bowls of pickles were set out on every table. So, when he was in charge of special events for the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, he came up with the idea of creating a festival around pickles — showcased by the giant flying pickle balloon, an homage to the Heinz pickle pin.

“It crossed so many different categories,” he says. “It’s creative and whimsical, goofy and funny, but also it’s farm to table.” Picklesburgh celebrates its 10th anniversary July 11-13; last year, it drew 250,000 fans. “It’s become a huge event — and I think, in many ways, a holiday,” he says.

So we wanted to know: What is Russell Howard’s Best of the ’Burgh?

What’s your Pittsburgh “hidden gem,” a place that you love that doesn’t get the attention it deserves?

Moondog’s in Blawnox. “The venue is exceptional and authentic and not nearly as appreciated as it deserves to be.”

If you could only eat one local meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?

Sunday brunch at the Grand Concourse at Station Square

If Pittsburgh had a theme song, what would it be?

“Takin’ Care of Business” by Bachman-Turner Overdrive

What’s the annual tradition that you wait for every year?

Picklesburgh

Favorite Pittsburgh appearance in a movie or on television?

The Downtown beauty shots during “Monday Night Football”

What’s your unpopular Pittsburgh opinion? What is something you think about the city (or a famous aspect of it) that won’t win you any friends?

“Pittsburgh drivers. I sometimes refer to this as like the Valley of the Dinosaurs [because] Pittsburgh drivers anywhere else would have evolved or been killed off by now.”